Circular-knitting machine.



Patented Aug. 14, I900.

N0. 656,l55. A. J. GULICH.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Km. 80, 18 99.)

3 Shook-Sheet (No Model.)

J0 U if J6: J5

3 6 W 3, 6 3 J 3 7 x 3 0 J p 5 0 9 I; r 4 a m a 4 5 9 5 h, 8 A k! 5 6 A J 0 Patented Aug. |4,"|900. ALJ. GULICH. CERCULK B KNITTING MACHINE.

r'catien filed Mar. 30, 1899.)

(App

3 Sheen-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

Wih esscs No. 656,I55.' Patented Aug. [4, I900.

A.-J. GULICH. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 39, 1899.) (No Model.) I

3 sheelsrsheet 3 '2/ /2- IIIII viii...

Wiigesses ASHLEY lGULICII, or oLnAnrIELo,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PERFECTION KNITTINGMACIIINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

cincurae nn rrine MACHINE V SEEGIFICATION fornzulng part of Letters Patent No. 656,155, dated August 14, 1900.

Application filed March so, 1 s9 9.

ld,in the county of Clearfield and State of J. ennsylvanimhave invented anew and use- Tel Tension Device for Circular-Knitting Ma ck-lines, of which thefollowing is a specificai101 This invention relates to tension devices forcircular-knitting machines; and the object in view is to provide an'im'proved construction of? yarn-carrier havinga novel form of self- .j usting or automatic take-u p,whose tension automatically varies according to the use of the-machine andtharequirtements of the feedfi \Vith this and other objects in View, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and-arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

While the'essential features of the invention are necessarily susceptible to modifica tion, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown inthe accompanying drawing's,in which Figure 1 is a' perspective view of a circularknitting machine of the gear-operated type fitted with the improvementscontemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view ofthe machine shownin Fig. 1, the line of section being. at one side of the plane of the yarn-carrier which is used with the gear-operated machine. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the revoluble cam ring or head shown removed from the base-ring or cylinder. Fig. 4 is 'a fragmentary sectional view of the cam-ring, showing the arrangement and relative positions of the needlecontrolling cam. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the crank-operated type of machine, having the cam ring or head thereof fitted with certain of the improvements contemplatedby the present invention. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the horizontal basering .of the machine, provided at one side thereof with the usual clamp 2 for securing the same to a table. shelf, or similar support. The said base-ring is formed at its inner Serial No. 711,132. (No model.)

peripheral edge'with an annular guide rabbet or groove 3 and has projected inwardly from the inner side thereof a plurality of arched supportingarms 4, to which is rigidly fastened the lower endof the upright needle-cylinder 5, thereby providing a rigid connection between the cylinder and the base-ring, similar to the connection shown in my former patent, No. 560,712. The upright stationary needle-cylinder 5 is of the ordinary construction, being provided in its exterior face with a circumferential series of vertically-disposed needle channels or grooves 6, in which reciprocate the verticallymovable knittingneedles 7, which needles are retained within their guide channels or grooves in the ordinary manner and are provided at their lower ends with the usual outwardly-disposed heel projections 8,which travel'on the track formed by the upper edge 9 of the revoluble cam ring or head 10. The revoluble cam ring or head 10 looselyencircles the needle-cylinder 5 at the lower end of the latter and is provided at its lower edge with an outturned bearing flange 11, which loosely registers in the annular guide rabbet or groove 3 at the inner peripheral edge of the baserriug, and said bearing-flange 11 of the cam ring or head is 'detachably retained in a working position by means of the plurality of retaining plates l2, detachably fastened to the upper side of the base-ring and havin their inner edges overlapping the peripheral edge of the flange 12, such construction being similar tothat disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 685,500. I

Certain of the improvements contemplated by the present invention are applicable not only to the gear type of machine disclosed in my former patent, but also to the gearless or crank-operated machine covered by the pending application referred to; but reference will first be made to these improvements associated with the gear -operated machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2' of the'drawings.

In the type of machine referred to therevoluble 'cam ring or head 10 is provided at. its lower edge with a circular gear portion or member 13, with which meshes the drive gear-wheel 14;, mounted on the inner end of a short operating-shaft 15, arranged-below the plane of the base-ring and journaled inthe pendent bearing-bracket 16, fitted to the base-ring at one side thereof, and said short operating-shaft has mounted on the outer end thereof a crank-handle 17, which is grasped by the operator to provide for rotating the revoluble cam ring or head, and thereby reciprocating the vertically-movable knitting needles. Substantially the same means are disclosed in my former patent to provide for communicating motion to the revoluble cam ring or head; but in the present invention said cam ring or head is designed to have the needle-controlling cams arranged and supported in a novel manner, whereby the entire set of cams may be adjusted vertically to permit of tight or loose knitting. This is accomplished through the medium of a vertically-adjustable segmental cam-supporting plate 18, which plate is fitted to the outer face of the cam ring or head at one side of the vertical center thereof and forms an inclosing wall for the pair of spaced approximately V shaped cam recesses 19, formed in the body of the cam ring or head it one side thereof, and having their edges forming direct continuations of the main upper track edge 9 of the cam ring or head, which lies in a horizontal plane more than one-half the circumference of the said ring or head.

Associated with spaced V-shaped cam-recesses 19 of the cam ring or head and the vertically-adjustu-blc segmental cam-suporting plate 18 are the needle actuating or controlling cams 20, 21, and 22, which are fitted to the inner concaved side of the cam-supporting plate. The main needle-controlling cam 20 is rigidly fastened to the inner side of the cam-supporting plate near the top edge of the latter and extends substantially from end to end thereof. The said main cam 20 has substantially the same configuration as the corresponding cam shown in my former patent, No. 560,712, with the exception that the central downwardly-pointing V-shaped or triangular lobe 23 lies in substantially the same plane as the rounded terminal lobes of the cam, so as to be disposed directly above the short elevated track-sectioifflt, lyingbetween the cam-recesses 19. The cams 21 and 22 are respectively the right and left switch cams or dogs'and are pivoted at their inner ends, as at 25, to the inner side of the earn-supporting plate 18, respectively at opposite sides of the downwardly-pointing center lobe 23 of the main cam 20, said switch-cams 21 and 22 being of an approximately-triangular configuration and normally loosely projecting into the V-shaped cam-recesses 19. Allof the said cams 20, 21, and 22 are arranged above and in the vertical plane of the upper edge track portion of the cam ring or headto form sinuous passages for the travel of the heel projections 8 of the reciprocating needles. The operation of the cams is familiar to those skilled in the art;-

but it may be explained at this point that as the cam-ring is rotated in one direction the heel projections of the needles will enter between one of the switch-cams and the adja: cent edge of the main cam 20 and pass out of the cam-space between the other or opposite switch-cam and the adjacent track edge within one of the V-shaped cam-recesses 19, as plainly illustrated in Fi 4 of the drawin gs. When the rotation is reversedflthe position of the dogs must also be reversed,which can be accomplished by the proper manipulation of the needles in the usual way, as fully explained in my former patent herein referred to; but it will be understood that by reason of providing the cam ring or head with a pair of cam-recesses,one, respectively, for each of the switch-cams, the needles are more positively and uniformly reciprocated and are caused to take hold of the yarn and free themselves therefrom with greater facility than has heretofore been possible.

To provide for slidably mounting the camsupporting plate 18 upon the cam ring or head, said plate is provided centrally between its ends with a vertically-disposed slot 26, leading upward from its lower edge and slidably engaging a vertically-disposed guiderib 27, projecting integrally from the outer side of the cam ring or head and provided with a threaded opening receiving a pivotscrew 28, on which is loosely mounted one end of a curved adjusting-lever 29. The said curved adjusting-lever 29 is provided at one end with a finger-plate 30 and intermediate its end with a longitudinally-disposed slot 31, receiving a clamping-screw 32, engaging in a threaded opening formed in the cam-support-Tos ing plate. By loosening the screw 32 and manipulating the lever 29 the cam-supporting plate 18 and the entire set of cams carried thereby may be raised or lowered to any desired degree to provide for causing tight or loose stitching, as may be required, and after being adjusted to its set position the said cam-supporting plate is held rigid in such position by simply tightening the clampingserew, as will be readily understood.

The vertically-adjustable cam-supporting plate 18 has projected integrally from the top edge thereof and centrally between its ends an upwardly-disposed and laterally-offset bracket-arm 33,'wnich is provided at its extreme upper end .with a supporting-head 34:, having formed therein a seatrgroove 35, in which is adjustably fitted a longitudinallyslotted stem 36, projected'integrally from the outer side of an approximately-triangular bowed yarn-guide plate 37. The longitudinally-slotted stem 36 of the yarn-guide plate is adapted to receive a clamping-screw 38, engaging in a threaded opening forming the upper end of the bracket-arm and providing means for securing the yarn-guide plate in any adjusted posit-ion toward and away from the needles within the needle-cylinder. The said yarn-guide plate isarranged in a plane just above the top edge of the ueedle-cy1inder. and is also disposed in close proximityto result the yarn-guide plate is provided therein 7 at .th'e. lower sidelhet f w th a ui o 10 ing oreye 39, through whichithe 'yar'n- 40 passes to the hooks of the needle, and said 'yarn is carried to the opening or eye 39 through the guide-opening 40, formed in the guide-stem 36 contiguous tothe outer side of r 5 the bowed yarn-guide plate 37.

In the gear-operated type of machine just described the yarn is delivered to the guide carried by the revoluble cam ring or head from a fixedly-positioned or stationary ya-rncarrier 41, which is supported on the basering 1, preferably at the side thereof carrying the clamp 2. To provide for the proper support of the yarncarrier,there is employeda supporting-bracket 43, provided at its lower end with a slotted foot 44, detachably fastened to the upper side of the base-ring 1 by means of the fasteningscrew 44. The said supporting-bracket 43 is extended upwardlyand outwardly from its point of connection with the brace-ring and has detachably fitted i n t h e upperouterend thereof a horizontal bobbin-spindle 45, extending beyond both s'ides'of the supportingbracket 43 and receiving, respectively, upon the opposite por- 3 5 tions thereof the oppositely-located yarn bobbins or spools 46, from either of which the yarn may be strung through the yarncarrier and the yarn-guide carried by the revoluble cam ring or head.

At one side of the plane of the horizontal bobbin-spindle 45 the supporting-bracket 43 is provided therein with a vertical ly disposed opening 47, in which isadjustably secured the lower end of the upright yarn-carrier 5 standard 48, to the upper end of which standard is fitted a horizontal cross-arm 49, the

inner end portion of which overhangs the needle-cylinder to provide for the proper feeding of the yarnto the yarn-guide of the cam ring or head. The said cross-arm 49 is provided in each end thereof witha guide-opening 50, and at a point intermediate the carrierstandard and the inner end of the cross-arm the latter has mounted thereon the yarmlock 5 5 5.1. The yarn-lock 51 is provided at one terminal with a guideeye 52 and is bent at its 'opposite end .into a lock-loop '53, extending over or straddling the cross-arm'49. At the ooped end 53 thereof the yarnlock 51'is piv- 0Q.,et ed to the said cross-arm 49,50 that it can raidily swing up and down toeit-her bind the y n on top of the cross-arm or to allow the,

yarnto pass through the guides freely to the needles.

- m e'e is e n we erir tthecam ring or head is moved back and forth,

- -In.the modification of the invention'shown r in'Fig. 5 of the drawings certain'of the im- Associated with theyarn-l'ock 511's a self adjusting take-up wire 54, which is pivotally pin 55, fitted in one side of a pivot ear or lug 56, projected integrally from the upper sideof the cross-arm, substantially in,the ve17-tical 7o plane of the yarn-carrier standard-,4S;#Th'e long arm of the self-adjusting take-upwir'e 54 is provided at its terminal with 'a' coiled guide-eye565, which receives the yarn 40 from the guide-eye 52'at one terminal of the-yarn- 7'5 lock and fromthe terminal guide-eye z'ifi 'of the take-up we the yarn passes thronghthe guide-opening 50 in the' inner-endof thegcros's- 1 arm, and from thence to the'yarn-guide, learried by the cam ring or head. I The'short arm of the said self-adjusting (take-up: wire is formed into an oblong orvelongated-xloop 5?, which, mechanically speaking, provides, :1; longitudinally-disposed slot whichivslidably receives the connecting-eye 58, formed at the 8 upper end of a retractile spring 59, theslower end of which spring is detachably engaged with the hook at one end of the adjustingarm 61, adjustably fastened to the yarn-carrier standard 48, to provide means foryarying the tension of the spring. Y a

When the machine is being operated one way and there is a steady drag upon the yarn the long arm of the take-up wire 5.4- is depressed in a close relation to theupper side of the cross-arm 49, and as thesaid :takezup wirepasses to this position thedconnectingeye 58 at the upper end of the-sprin g 59 slides: within the loop 57 close tozthe pivot-center of the take-up wire, thereby lightening the tension on said wire, so that the yarn maybe freely drawn from the carrier tothe guide of the cam ring or head, andin this position of the take-up wirethereis also no strainin an upward direction .on the yarn-lock,-softhat the lock-loop thereof will not bind on the yarn.

too

However, when only a portion. ofthencedles are in operation, as when knitting the heel or toe of hosiery or in knitting'web form,

which necessarily slack-ens upthe yarn, and thereby permits/ the take-up wire" to spring to an elevated position,-which consequently elevates the yarn-lock and causes the'lockloop thereof to pinch the yarn on top'ot the r 1 cross-arm. The take-up wire then serves to take up the slack in the yarn without drawing the latter from the bobbinwhich is in use, and at this point it will also b e observedthat as the take-up wire springs to :its elevated positionthe connecting-eye 58 of the retract ile spring slides into the end-of the loop 57', away from the pivot-center of .thetake-up wire, and thereby increases the tension on said"wi'r'e, which is necessary to insure a proper opera- 12 tion of the yarn-lock; It' will thus be's'een that the take-up wire has the tensionthereof automatically varied according to'the'use of the machine. I

provements herein described are shown-ap-' plied to the gearless or crank-operated type of machine covered by nyaforesaid pending application, Serial No. 685,500. In the modification referred to the use of gears is enstanding crank arm or lever 62 is employed.

The said crank arm or lever 62 is provided at its upper end with a vertically-arranged hand-grasp 63 and at its lower end with an attaching-foot 64, adapted to be detachably fastened by means of the fastening-screw 65 to the outer side of the bracket'arm 33 below the plane of the supporting-head 3i at the upper end thereof. In other respects the mounting of the cam-supporting plate and cams is the same as previously described, with the exception that in order to provide for properly feeding'the yarn to the yarngnide plate 37 the latter is preferably provided at the upper side thereof above the plane of the guide opening or eye 39 with an extra guide opening or eye 39 for receiving the yarn from the yarn-carrier 41. The yarn-carrier 41 is the form of yarn-carrier that must be used with the cam ring or head when the latter is rotated by means of a crank arm or lever rigidly connected therewith and is fastened directly to the cam ring or head, so as to rotate therewith in the mannor fully disclosed in my aforesaid application. The said yarn-carrier 41 comprises the same elements as described in said app1icationnainely, the take-up wire 65 and the yarn-lock 51; but in the present invention the yarn-carrier standard 67 instead of being connected to the supporting-bracket t3 by means of a vertical pivot, as disclosed in said application, is connected to said supporting-bracket by a horizontal pivot 68, which permits of the yarn-carrier standard and the parts carried thereby being swung in a radial direction outwardly away from the needlecylinder when threading or adjusting the paifts of the machine in and around the rice tile-cylinder.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the supportingbracket 43 is also fitted with the bobbin-spindle 45, carrying the pair of oppositely-arrangedyarn bobbins or spools 46.

The usual weighted work-holdin g spider G9 is engaged with the fabric being knitted to provide for placing a proper tension thereon. The many advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art Without further description and I will have it understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. Y 2

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a circular-knitting machine, the combiuation with a knitting-cylinder and a yarncarrier, of a cross-arm on the carrier, a yarnlock connecttd to and freely movable on said cross-arm and provided with a guide-eye, a take up arm normally elevated above the cross-arm and supported by the yarn-carrier in cooperative relation to the yarn-lock, said take-up arm having a yarn-guide eye and pivotally mounted on the yarn-carrier, and an automatically -adjustable tension device having a slidable connection with said takeup arm to vary the tension exerted thereby according to the slack or feed of the yarn.

2. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with a knitting-cylinder and a yarncarrier, of a cross-arm on the carrier, a takeup arm normally elevated above the crossarm audhavingayarn-guide eyeand mounted pivotally on the yarn-carrier, and an automatically-adjustable tension-spring having a slidable connection with said take-up arm to vary the tension exerted on the yarn by the take-up arm according to the feed or slack in the yarn, substantially as described. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with a knitting-cylinder, a yarn-carrier and a yarn-lock supported on said carrier, of a self-adjusting take-up arm pivoted on the carrier and having a slot and a guide-eye, the latter being in operative relation to the yarn-lock,and a tension-spring having a shiftable connection with the slotted part of the take-up arm, substantially as described.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with the' knitting-cylinder and the cam ring or head, of a yarn-carrier having a yarn-lock,aself-adj ustin g take-up wire mounted for movement independently of and cooper ating with said lock, and a tension-spring havinga slidable self-adjusting connection with said take-up wire to vary the tension or stress thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the needle-cylinder and the cam ring or head, of a yarn-carrier having a standard carrying a horizontal arm at its upper end, a yarn-lock mounted on said horizontal arm, a take-up wire pivotally supported contiguous to one end on said horizontal arm and cooperating with the yarn-lock, said take-up wire having the short arm thereof at one side of its pivot formed with a-longitudinally-disposed slot, and a tension-springhavinga JOHN W. SMITH, H. P. BRIDGE. 

